What causes swollen stem bases in water spinach, and how should it be prevented and controlled?
Water spinach is a common leafy vegetable that we often stir-fry or serve cold; it is also a very widely grown market crop, and many growers frequently encounter swollen stem bases in water spinach during cultivation, which seriously affects the quality of large quantities of water spinach. So what causes swollen stem bases in water spinach? And how should it be prevented? Let's find out together below.
I. Causes of swollen stem bases in water spinach
As for the cause of swollen stem bases in water spinach, many people believe it is damage from thrips and viral disease, but in fact neither is correct; it is mainly caused by white rust. After water spinach white rust infects the stem base or roots, pale yellowish-brown deformed swellings appear, 1-2 times larger than normal stems, in both round and irregular shapes, and white blisters also appear. In addition, young stems also become thickened and deformed, which weakens the growth capacity of stems and leaves and affects the yield and quality of water spinach.
II. Prevention and control methods
1. Preventive measures
Pay attention to selecting disease-resistant varieties; before sowing, seeds can be coated with 2.5% fludioxonil suspension seed coating agent, which can effectively prevent disease caused by seed-borne pathogens; pay attention to reasonable crop rotation, rotating for 2-3 years with non-Convolvulaceae crops, and also rotating with rice; water spinach prefers fertilizer, so apply more organic fertilizer, with light topdressing early and heavier topdressing later, and after harvest apply urea or compound fertilizer as topdressing, or spray foliar potassium dihydrogen phosphate, brassinolide, etc., to promote early and rapid growth of stems and leaves and improve disease resistance.
2. Chemical control
In the early stage of the disease, spray with 72% cymoxanil · mancozeb wettable powder at 800 times dilution, 69% dimethomorph · mancozeb wettable powder, 25% pyraclostrobin emulsifiable concentrate at 1500 times dilution, etc. Before the disease occurs, use 25% azoxystrobin suspension concentrate at 1500-2000 times dilution or 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 600 times dilution and other agents for prevention. When using chemicals, pay attention to rotating the agents to avoid developing resistance, and at the same time reduce chemical residues.
III. Can swollen stem bases still be eaten
Water spinach with swollen stems can still be eaten; although it is a disease caused by fungal infection, there is no problem with using it, but water spinach with swollen young stems has a poor appearance and is not favored by consumers, so in order to protect your own cultivation benefits, attention should still be paid to the prevention and control of this disease.
The above is an introduction to the causes of swollen stem bases in water spinach and the prevention and control methods. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.